Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada
Abstract The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor remains a great threat for the beekeeping industry, for example contributing to excessive winter colony loss in Canada. For decades, beekeepers have sequentially used the registered synthetic varroacides tau-fluvalinate, coumaphos, amitraz, and flume...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85279-6 |
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| author | Rassol Bahreini Joel González-Cabrera Carmen Sara Hernández-Rodríguez Sara Moreno-Martí Samantha Muirhead Renata B Labuschagne Olav Rueppell |
| author_facet | Rassol Bahreini Joel González-Cabrera Carmen Sara Hernández-Rodríguez Sara Moreno-Martí Samantha Muirhead Renata B Labuschagne Olav Rueppell |
| author_sort | Rassol Bahreini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor remains a great threat for the beekeeping industry, for example contributing to excessive winter colony loss in Canada. For decades, beekeepers have sequentially used the registered synthetic varroacides tau-fluvalinate, coumaphos, amitraz, and flumethrin, leading to the risk of resistance evolution in the mites. In addition to the widespread resistance to coumaphos and pyrethroids, a decline in amitraz efficacy has recently been reported in numerous beekeeping regions in Canada. The goals of this study were to assess the evolution of resistance to amitraz in Canadian mite populations and to evaluate the presence and incidence of mutations previously associated with resistance to amitraz and pyrethroids in V. destructor. Our bioassay results confirmed the presence of amitraz-resistant mites in the population of Alberta. These phenotypic results were complemented by targeted genotyping of the octopamine receptor gene Octβ2R which revealed the presence of the mutation Y215H in 90% of tested apiaries with local allele frequencies ranging from 5 to 95%. The phenotypic resistance showed a significant correlation with the presence of this mutation across apiaries. In parallel, the L925I and L925M mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel were identified in 100% of the tested apiaries with frequencies ranging from 33 to 97%, suggesting that resistance to pyrethroids remains widespread. These results support the notion that the practice of relying on a single treatment for a prolonged period can increase rates of resistance to current varroacides. Our findings suggest the need for large-scale resistance monitoring via genotyping to provide timely information to beekeepers and regulators. This will enable them to make an effective management plan, including rotation of available treatments to suppress or at least delay the evolution of resistance in V. destructor populations. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-59bf269a0716473e8ed3e4b80a005db32025-01-12T12:14:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-85279-6Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in CanadaRassol Bahreini0Joel González-Cabrera1Carmen Sara Hernández-Rodríguez2Sara Moreno-Martí3Samantha Muirhead4Renata B Labuschagne5Olav Rueppell6Department of Biological Sciences, University of AlbertaInstitute BIOTECMED, Universitat de ValènciaInstitute BIOTECMED, Universitat de ValènciaInstitute BIOTECMED, Universitat de ValènciaPlant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and IrrigationTechnology Transfer Program, Alberta Beekeepers CommissionDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of AlbertaAbstract The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor remains a great threat for the beekeeping industry, for example contributing to excessive winter colony loss in Canada. For decades, beekeepers have sequentially used the registered synthetic varroacides tau-fluvalinate, coumaphos, amitraz, and flumethrin, leading to the risk of resistance evolution in the mites. In addition to the widespread resistance to coumaphos and pyrethroids, a decline in amitraz efficacy has recently been reported in numerous beekeeping regions in Canada. The goals of this study were to assess the evolution of resistance to amitraz in Canadian mite populations and to evaluate the presence and incidence of mutations previously associated with resistance to amitraz and pyrethroids in V. destructor. Our bioassay results confirmed the presence of amitraz-resistant mites in the population of Alberta. These phenotypic results were complemented by targeted genotyping of the octopamine receptor gene Octβ2R which revealed the presence of the mutation Y215H in 90% of tested apiaries with local allele frequencies ranging from 5 to 95%. The phenotypic resistance showed a significant correlation with the presence of this mutation across apiaries. In parallel, the L925I and L925M mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel were identified in 100% of the tested apiaries with frequencies ranging from 33 to 97%, suggesting that resistance to pyrethroids remains widespread. These results support the notion that the practice of relying on a single treatment for a prolonged period can increase rates of resistance to current varroacides. Our findings suggest the need for large-scale resistance monitoring via genotyping to provide timely information to beekeepers and regulators. This will enable them to make an effective management plan, including rotation of available treatments to suppress or at least delay the evolution of resistance in V. destructor populations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85279-6Apis melliferaVarroa destructorAcaricidesTaqManBioassayResistance evolution |
| spellingShingle | Rassol Bahreini Joel González-Cabrera Carmen Sara Hernández-Rodríguez Sara Moreno-Martí Samantha Muirhead Renata B Labuschagne Olav Rueppell Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada Scientific Reports Apis mellifera Varroa destructor Acaricides TaqMan Bioassay Resistance evolution |
| title | Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada |
| title_full | Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada |
| title_short | Arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite in Canada |
| title_sort | arising amitraz and pyrethroids resistance mutations in the ectoparasitic varroa destructor mite in canada |
| topic | Apis mellifera Varroa destructor Acaricides TaqMan Bioassay Resistance evolution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85279-6 |
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